jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella sings harmonics - including with Micaiah, once he's learned the mass to performance quality; there's a forty-five minute section in the middle that's perfect for extracting and presenting to the wee hours of the morning at the Eyrie.

She flies on intercessions, and generally brings him along, for rain, to halt a blizzard, to calm a storm, and once she finds a plague flag and puts Micaiah down far away from the settlement while she quizzes the healthier community members about their symptoms. Angels rarely catch the plague; she feels safe enough picking Micaiah up again so he can listen to her sing through the verse designated for each complaint (this for fever, that for cough, the other for the rash) and watch the pills fall to earth. The flag comes down and they continue home.

She keeps half an eye on Nathaniel, and quietly informs Baruch of the situation as well so he'll be mindful of the boy's potential sensitivities.

She falls into an assistant role with Delilah - nothing so formal as the situation she had with Linus, because Isabella would be living at the Eyrie either way, but Delilah sends her to greet visitors and has her take notes at meetings and occasionally even asks her opinion on questions about this or that.

And one morning, Isabella opens her door to leave her quarters and sing a pre-dawn duet with Serah - and the hallway is not there.

"Micaiah," she murmurs.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah peers around her wing.

"...That's new," he says. "I wonder what happened? Let's go find out!"
jovahs_heiress: (concern)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"There is supposed to be a hallway here," says Isabella, bewildered. "This looks like a bar. This isn't even the Eyrie."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Doesn't look like it," he agrees cheerfully.
jovahs_heiress: (unbalanced)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Well. This is the only way out of her quarters; her windows are little slits of skylight, she's not at the edge of the mountain in one of the most desirable rooms with a nice view. If this door is determined to lead to a bar...

She steps, slowly, as though afraid to put weight on the floor, but she goes in.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah follows, without any of her hesitation.
jovahs_heiress: (unbalanced)
Author: jovahs_heiress
The bar is full of a multitude of people. Isabella is the only angel there, and most everyone is dressed strangely; some people are shaped strangely. Of the people with visible forearms, no one appears to have been dedicated. The bar is unstaffed, but someone, too far to make out the words, orders a drink - and it appears.

"What kind of place is this?" murmurs Isabella.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I don't know," he says, looking around them with a grin, "but I like it."
truthwright: (⑵ talk about cut of meat)
Author: truthwright
The person who ordered the drink turns around. There's a brilliantly coloured snake coiled around his shoulders.

He looks an awful lot like Micaiah.

And when he spots them, he grins and waves.
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Sweet Jovah singing, it's - did you have a twin - he's not dedicated, Jovah wouldn't have known -" Isabella asks, reaching for Micaiah's hand to comfort her when in the past this gesture has more been for the transfer of comfort in the other direction.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
He squeezes her hand, then kisses it.

"No!" he says. "Not that I ever heard."

And the stranger looks... Micaiah isn't sure what he's seeing, exactly. He just seems different in some subtle, indefinable way. Maybe it's the strange clothes. Or the snake. It could be the snake.
truthwright: (⑹ of all that you could see)
Author: truthwright
Kas makes his way across the room to them; Petaal holds his strawberry milkshake coiled in the end of her tail.

"Hi!" he says, beaming at both of them. "You're new, aren't you? You must be new."
jovahs_heiress: (unbalanced)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"We've never been here before," Isabella says, looking between the snake holding the milkshake and the unstrange stranger's face with unbalanced tentativeness. "It's... not where my door is supposed to go. Where are we? Who are you? Why do you look like Micaiah?"
truthwright: (⑴ my troubles  will be few)
Author: truthwright
"You're at Milliways!" he says. "Lemme guess, your name's some version of Isabella? You can call me Kas. And there's somebody upstairs I bet you wanna meet."
jovahs_heiress: (concern)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"...I'm Isabella. How did you know that?" demands Isabella. "What is going on?"
truthwright: (⑷ sweet sweet thing)
Author: truthwright
"It's a magic bar," says the snake. "It brings people from different worlds together. Our girlfriend's upstairs and she's another one of you, wanna meet her?"
jovahs_heiress: (unbalanced)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Jovah's bones, the snake talks!" shrieks Isabella.

After she processes what, exactly, the snake has said, she says, "...Another one of me?"
truthwright: (⑸ got no innocence)
Author: truthwright
"That's how we know your name," Kas explains.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"So you're another one of me," Micaiah concludes.
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella rubs at one of her temples where a headache is being born, still eyeing the talking snake warily. "Why are there several of anyone?"
truthwright: (⑿ when all the world's asleep)
Author: truthwright
"Different worlds," Kas reiterates.

"If you're not coming to meet our Isabella, I'm going to get her," says Petaal.
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I'll - meet her - but why would different worlds have copies of people on them with talking snakes, or - anything?" asks Isabella, stepping further into the bar to follow where they lead. "We were carried to Samaria from another world, but not in such a way that I would expect copies of our ancestors to produce copies of us over the years."
truthwright: (⑺ have things my own way)
Author: truthwright
"Different kinds of 'world'," says Petaal, turning her head to watch back over Kas's shoulder as he sets off toward the stairs.
jovahs_heiress: (breathe)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Okay," says Isabella tentatively.

Up the stairs she goes.

She hasn't let go of Micaiah's hand.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah walks close by her side.
truthwright: (⑷ sweet sweet thing)
Author: truthwright
Kas takes them all the way to the Belltower and pokes his head in.

"Sweetie, sweetie, I found more of us!"
jovahs_heiress: (unbalanced)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"...Hello," says Isabella tentatively, taking in the wingless version of herself, with the owl, and the torn black outfit, and the familiar eyes.
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
"Hello! Wow, you've got wings, that's new, none of the others so far have wings, though if Stella hasn't wished to fly yet I'll eat my cloudpine," says the other her chattily. "I'm Isabella Amariah and this -" She indicates the owl, who waves a wing - "is Pathalan. You can call me Amariah for non-redundancy and him Path for short. What about you?"
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"If you don't want to call me Isabella," says Isabella, "then... 'angela' will do. And this is Micaiah. And we don't have snakes or owls with us to introduce."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah waves.
truthwright: (⑸ got no innocence)
Author: truthwright
"I'm Petaal," says Petaal, and drops the milkshake into Kas's hand and flows off his shoulder and down his arm and shifts into a very naked angel.

"Ooh, fun," she says, stretching out her wings and then wrapping one around Kas.

"Soft!" he remarks, leaning into her.
jovahs_heiress: (concern)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella shrieks.

And, as an afterthought, shields her eyes with her wing.
dark_light: (why yes)
Author: dark_light
"Petaal," says Amariah. "Not all the Bellas are me. Angela, if I give Petaal my clothes and I'm the only one sitting around naked, will that improve matters? I do look just like you."
jovahs_heiress: (unbalanced)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Why would anyone be naked?" exclaims Angela. "What just happened? She was a snake!"
truthwright: (⑽ something inexpressible)
Author: truthwright
"I'm sorry," Petaal says contritely, wrapping her wings around herself. (Her feathers are glossy black, like a crow's, except for a few here and there that are perfectly white. The pattern is not symmetrical.) "There, is that better?"
jovahs_heiress: (unbalanced)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"You're still not wearing anything! And - and how did you do that?"
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"You must not even have magic, wings aside," remarks Amariah. "Okay. Path and Petaal are called daemons. On our world, everyone has them. They're like our souls, but we keep them outside of our bodies. Children's daemons can turn into anything they like. Most settle down around puberty - Path can only be this kind of owl, now - but Petaal never did. She can be whatever she wants. Including a he. So she'll change shape sometimes, and sometimes does this in such a way as to suddenly be something that would normally wear clothes but not have any. Make sense?"
jovahs_heiress: (away)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I... can follow what you're saying," allows Angela. "But I wouldn't say anything about this place makes sense."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I'm okay with you being naked," Micaiah says to Petaal.
truthwright: (⑴ my troubles  will be few)
Author: truthwright
"That's sweet," giggles Petaal. She turns into a small dragon and perches on Kas's shoulder.

Kas gives Micaiah a grin.
jovahs_heiress: (unsure)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Angela looks around for angel-compatible furniture. There is none, so she goes on standing. She peers at the guestbook, and opens it, and reads.

"This is the most bizarre thing to have ever happened in my life," she says, but she picks up the odd pen beside the book, figures out which end writes, and puts in her own page. "I don't understand how to put the pictures in."
dark_light: (unimpressed)
Author: dark_light
"You ask Bar, for a portrait of you and one of Micaiah - she's good at pictures - and for a little glue to paste them in," says Amariah. "Oh - Bar is a person. You can talk to her and she'll answer with writing on napkins. Do you have money?"
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I don't have cash. I have bracelets - they'd tell any merchant in Samaria to bill the Eyrie - but I don't see how... Bar... could do that."
truthwright: (⑻ who i really am)
Author: truthwright
"I've seen her take credit cards," says Kas. "I bet she can handle credit bracelets."
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Okay then. Erm - Amariah - could you show me -"
dark_light: (la la)
Author: dark_light
"Of course," says Amariah, and she gets up, and witch and angel Isabellas go down the stairs. They're back in minutes with little portraits and a borrowed stick of glue.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah is sitting in Kas's lap cuddling Petaal, who has become a viscacha for the purpose.
jovahs_heiress: (unbalanced)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Angela peers at this scene.

She turns to Amariah. "Your guestbook entry said -"
dark_light: (cool)
Author: dark_light
"Yeah, that's Path. That's most people, actually. Petaal's more..." Amariah shrugs. "Touchable. To alts of Kas, anyway. There should really be some general name for the class now there's at least four floating around; they don't have name consistency like we do... That doesn't mean you should touch her, though," Amariah adds hastily. "No one should without asking. It's... intimate." Her expression clearly indicates that this is an understatement.
jovahs_heiress: (away)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I don't understand," says Angela, still peering at the stack of Kas-and-Micaiah-and-daemon.
dark_light: (squinting)
Author: dark_light
"...Erm," says Amariah. "I know you put him in your significant other entry, but how long have you known Micaiah?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"About a week?" says Micaiah. "Maybe a little less."
dark_light: (squinting)
Author: dark_light
Amariah blinks.

"And how did the two of you get together exactly?"
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Jovah chose us for each other," says Angela. She glances at Amariah's bare arm and explains: "The bits of crystal in our arms - they're our dedications to the god - they get people's attention when they've met their true loves - mine never looked like this before I met Micaiah. And to be sure, I checked with the oracle at Sinai, and she said that if I were ever named Archangel, he'd be my angelico."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah beams and snuggles into Kas's lap.
truthwright: (⑹ of all that you could see)
Author: truthwright
Kas laughs and hugs him and kisses his cheek.
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"...What are you two doing?" Angela asks, genuinely confused.
dark_light: (seriously?)
Author: dark_light
"...Okay, look, maybe your one is different, or something," says Amariah. "But based on what I know about the template doubled up over there, I was almost surprised to find them just cuddling and not making out or outright absconded into one of the bedrooms by the time we came back. Maybe your god is really good at finding true loves, and sure, he'll always come back, but I don't think you're looking at a life of monogamy with - what is an angelico?"
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"The husband of a female Archangel. Archangels rule Samaria," says Angela absently, digesting this information. "...Micaiah, is she right?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"...Well, I was gonna ask if it made you sad first," he says. "And then I might try not to. But I really like sex, I don't just wanna have it with one person for the rest of my life. That would make me pretty sad."
jovahs_heiress: (unsure)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Oh," murmurs Angela, blinking. "...Is that an Edori thing? I suppose I wouldn't necessarily know if Noah - or Rachel - or Susannah - had - lovers..."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"It's kind of an Edori thing?"
truthwright: (⑼ and i'm still on my own)
Author: truthwright
"It's an us thing, too, though," says Kas.
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I didn't know," murmurs Angela.
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"You're one of me. You can live with it," Amariah says encouragingly. "Stella does too. Shell Bell and her girlfriend aren't exclusive either."
jovahs_heiress: (unbalanced)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"...Yes, that confused me, the 'girlfriend' thing, is that meant in the usual way even though...?"
dark_light: (squinting)
Author: dark_light
"What the hell kind of world are you from?" asks Amariah, shaking her head. "Yes. Girlfriend is meant in the usual way. She has special circumstances, you're not likely to wake up one morning and want to kiss the girl next door, but that's a thing."
jovahs_heiress: (away)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I'm from the kind of world in which I'm an endangered species," Angela says defensively. "Everything I know was presented with the expectation that I'm on board with the project of making more angels. Dalliances aren't uncommon - anything to make more little angels - I can get used to that, particularly if the other people he wants to dally with are other angel girls - but no, this is new, give me a minute."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah waits patiently.
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
"I am suddenly and intensely curious about your childhood," says Amariah to her counterpart.
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Why, just because I've never heard of - people absconding to bedrooms with others of the same sex? All right," says Angela, sighing. She is tired of standing. She sits on the floor, extending her wings behind her; this will be uncomfortable in a while but by then her feet will be ready to hold her up again. "I was born in an angel hold. It's - rich, and comfortable, and there is always music, and the leader of the host there was also Archangel for the first fifteen years or so I lived and even now that the title has passed on to Linus at Monteverde it's still a place of political consequence for the province. Angels pray for weather, or sometimes for seeds or medicines, and Jovah grants our prayers, and I've been able to do intercessions alone or with help since I was thirteen. We are always concerned about making more angels, and there's never a guarantee that any given child will be one - even the one time in history Jovah allowed two angels to wed, this was only because they were not about to produce malformed lucifers; even the only safe pairing of angels ever to have occurred resulted in one mortal daughter along with her angel sisters. My parents tried for more children but Rinnah hasn't been able to get pregnant again since she bore a stillborn mortal brother when I was six."
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
"A life of useful luxury," marvels Amariah. "Yeah. Okay. I could see turning out like you."
jovahs_heiress: (breathe)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"What about you? You're not an angel, you're a 'witch'."
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"Yeah, but there are lots of witches, and while not all our kids are witches, all our daughters are," says Amariah. "And - you kept referring to people as 'mortals'. Are you not mortal?"
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"At some point I suppose I'll have to cross the river into Jovah's keeping," says Angela solemnly. "It doesn't mean I'll live forever. It means I'm divine."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"You've really never heard of people taking lovers of the same sex?" asks Micaiah.
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Angela thinks.

"I once heard of a pair of angel-seeker women around Monteverde who'd... cooperate? But these were angel-seekers and the objective obviously had to do with the attention they'd get from angel men."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah shakes his head.
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"What? How would I have heard of any of this without someone to tell me?"
dark_light: (skyward)
Author: dark_light
"It's okay," sighs Amariah. "You've heard it now. At least you're reacting like you really just never heard of it and not like it's inherently evil or against your religion or something, because that would be awkward. There are religions on my world that forbid it. Mine doesn't care," she adds with a grin.
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"...So, your people don't worship Jovah, I gather."
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
"Nah. A bunch of goddesses. They answer me when I pray, though - well, cast spells, but invoking their names - just like your god does," Amariah says.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Do you sing to them?" wonders Micaiah.
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"No. I recite poetry," answers Amariah. "You sing, Angela? I can't sing to speak of - can you?"
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Of course I can. Angels can. I'm not Hagar - er - a certain historical angelica who had the finest woman's voice of all time - but I think I'm above average even among angels. Do you want to hear something?"
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
"Yeah, I do."
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Micaiah, do you want to sing with me?" Angela asks. "The mass, or something else, whatever you like as long as I know it."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"The mass," he decides. "The part we do for harmonics. I like it."

He scoops up Petaal, stands, and deposits her gently in his place in Kas's lap.
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Angela nods twice and launches into the pickup to the section in question.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah matches her.
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
Amariah listens raptly, impressed.
truthwright: (⑻ who i really am)
Author: truthwright
Kas and Petaal do likewise.
jovahs_heiress: (portrait)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Finally they come to the amen that makes this section self-contained enough to be sung alone, and silence falls.
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
Amariah claps. "You can absolutely sing!" she agrees. "Gorgeous, really gorgeous."
truthwright: (⑷ sweet sweet thing)
Author: truthwright
"Seriously," says Kas. He dumps Petaal out of his lap (she flomps onto the floor happily enough) to give Micaiah a hug.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah hugs back.

Then he looks to Angela.

"So... can I fuck him?" he asks hopefully.
jovahs_heiress: (unbalanced)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Angela is momentarily too taken aback by the strong language to even consider the question.
dark_light: (why yes)
Author: dark_light
"Do you need a notebook?" Amariah asks her.
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"...A notebook and fifteen minutes to think would be great."
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
"Loan me a bracelet, I'll get a stack of them and we can keep this place stocked," says Amariah, and once she's gotten one of the credit bracelets, she goes, and comes back with a bunch of blank notebooks and pens and pencils. She hands one of each to the angel.
jovahs_heiress: (unsure)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Angela scoots so that no one can readily see what she's writing, and props the book on her knees, and starts scribbling away to herself.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah returns to Kas's lap to cuddle up with him.
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
Amariah goes and sits on that side of the room, although she doesn't attempt to stack herself on top of them. "I think it'll work out," she says comfortably to the two and a half people in the chair. "We're just thinky types."
truthwright: (⑸ got no innocence)
Author: truthwright
Petaal shifts ferret and climbs into Amariah's lap.

"Sometime I should be an angel and snuggle you," she says. "Their wings are cuddly like you wouldn't believe."
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
"Sure, sweetie," laughs Amariah, scritching ferret-Petaal. "That sounds lovely."
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"How do the daemons figure into all this?" Angela asks, tapping the notebook with her pencil.
dark_light: (unimpressed)
Author: dark_light
"Well, that's not something you're going to have to worry about once you and Micaiah go home and nobody has them, but," Amariah shrugs, "there's different ways to do it. Usually people don't touch each other's daemons. It's more intense, more intimate, than sex. Even married couples sometimes never get that far. In which case the daemons snuggle with each other somewhere nearby to whatever extent their shapes allow. In this case, Petaal's touchier than most, and besides Micaiah doesn't have one of her to keep her occupied if they left her out - she'll be involved directly - but really she's not a separate person, if that's what has you concerned. ...Do I need to explain that more than two entire separate people can have sex, too...?"
jovahs_heiress: (away)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I told you I'd heard about the cooperating angel-seekers," huffs Angela. She goes on writing.
truthwright: (⑴ my troubles  will be few)
Author: truthwright
Petaal giggles.
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Angela's estimate of fifteen minutes is more or less correct. She tears out the page and crumples it. "Yeah," she sighs. "You can do what you like with Kas and Petaal, Micaiah."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
He goes over and hugs her.

"Thanks," he says happily. "I love you."
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
She hugs back, arms accompanied by wings, and lets him go.
truthwright: (⑶ anticipatin' fun)
Author: truthwright
"So will anybody mind if we take one of the bedrooms?"
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"Go for it," says Amariah with a negligent wave.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Thanks," beams Micaiah.
truthwright: (⑷ sweet sweet thing)
Author: truthwright
Petaal rears up and bumps her nose against Amariah's cheek in a ferrety kiss, then follows Kas and Micaiah into the chosen bedroom.
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Now what?" asks Angela helplessly.
dark_light: (cool)
Author: dark_light
"You hungry? Buy me lunch with your fancy credit bracelets," says Amariah, and she pulls the angel to her feet and leads her back downstairs. They sit at the bar and Amariah explains how it works, and Angela dutifully buys them both meals, although hers - given that it's not even dawn where she came from - is breakfast.
eversomuchfun: Looking sideways. (== you will ever lie to me)
Author: eversomuchfun
As they are finishing their food, someone walks in the door.

He pauses.

He looks around him in rapt fascination.
dark_light: (squinting)
Author: dark_light
Amariah notices him and recognizes the face, and narrows it down from a few possibilities based on the observant look. "Hi, Sherlock!" she says, friendly, before she notices that something is wrong, and leans back, narrowing her eyes. "Oh, you're not the one I was thinking of. What is wrong with your soul?"
eversomuchfun: Smiling, perhaps falsely. (!= oh yes—hilarious)
Author: eversomuchfun
"Hello, not-the-Bella-I-was-thinking-of," he says pleasantly. "It was parasitized, if you must know. Gang of vampire assassins. Nasty business all round."
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"That sucks," says Amariah. "I don't actually go by Bella. It's Isabella, which is itself short for Isabella Amariah, and when there's others around my unique nickname of choice is the Amariah part instead. This one's also Isabella and she decided to go by Angela for antiredundancy purposes. Angela, this is an alt of Shell Bell's girlfriend, but not the one I met before. Sherlock, you've got a Bella in your world?"
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"...Hello, alt of Shell Bell's girlfriend," says Angela.
eversomuchfun: Hands. (== I think that's sorted)
Author: eversomuchfun
"I do, yes. I have been calling her Juliet but she may or may not choose to claim that as her distinguishing nickname."
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"If she lets you call her that I bet she will, unless there's something else obvious," shrugs Amariah. "Oh, I keep forgetting - don't touch the owl, the owl is off limits - people with internal souls do not, I understand, know this implicitly."
eversomuchfun: Side-on in the dark; expression not visible. (== a degree of humanity)
Author: eversomuchfun
"Noted," says Sherlock. "A pleasure to meet you both."
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
"Likewise! I've been here a few times, and me and Shell Bell, who is not here today, are the founding members of the Belltower, which is a place for alts of us and our friends to hang out, but this is Angela's first time and she's from a weird world that I don't fully get yet, so she's reeling a little," Amariah says chattily. "You looked surprised when you walked in - first timer?"
jovahs_heiress: (considering)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"My world is weird? You have an external owl-shaped soul!" says Angela, but she's clearly teasing.
eversomuchfun: Grinning or laughing. (!= all the way to the kettle)
Author: eversomuchfun
"I am indeed a first timer," he says. "And enjoying myself so far."
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"You didn't bring your Tony with you. Do you have a Tony?" Amariah inquires. "The other two have them - they're both boys even though Shell Bell's Sherlock is a girl."
eversomuchfun: Upset or uncertain. (>= soul or no soul)
Author: eversomuchfun
"I—did," he says. "I believe I have already mentioned the gang of vampire assassins."
dark_light: (pensive)
Author: dark_light
"Oh - oh dear," murmurs Amariah. "I'm sorry." Path hoots sympathetically.
eversomuchfun: Thoughtful or possibly menacing. (>= it is up to you how we pass the time)
Author: eversomuchfun
"Thank you."
dark_light: (unimpressed)
Author: dark_light
"What about Jarvis?" she asks tentatively. "Only one of the others has one of those - but I met him, I went to their world briefly..."
eversomuchfun: Looking ceilingward. (<= hardly very sensitive of you)
Author: eversomuchfun
"Also assassinated. At which point I killed everyone responsible, fucked off to California in search of a compelling reason not to set myself on fire, and found my dear Juliet, who does the trick pretty well. And now you know the story of my life, more or less."
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
"What's Juliet's story? I'm a witch and I have an artifact that cryptically dispenses objective truth and I'm working on taking over the world with that and ritual magic. Angela's an angel and she's trying to be a good person so her god will appoint her Archangel. Stella, who's not here today either and I haven't met her but she signed the guest book, colonized Mars and is already calling herself Empress, and Shell Bell is well on her way and she's met Stella and Stella can give out her ultra-powerful sort of magic, so Shell Bell's probably done taking over her world by now too. And Stella has reportedly met a vampire - although not, I think, your kind - of us who is an empress also. It's a trend."
eversomuchfun: Side-on in the dark; expression not visible. (== a degree of humanity)
Author: eversomuchfun
"Juliet's story is several thousand years old," he says, "but a brief sketch: my world is overrun with all sorts of nasty bitey creatures, of which vampires are perhaps the most numerous but by no means the only. A long time ago, some collection of magic-wielding people with bizarre priorities decided to dump a lovely package of superpowers onto a teenage girl and make her fight off the nasty bitey hordes for them, with the superpowers then passing on to yet another teenage girl when the first was inevitably killed in the line of duty. Juliet is the latest such person; they're called Slayers. I am currently acting as her bodyguard and martial arts instructor in the hope that she will live past twenty-six, which no other Slayer has ever done."
dark_light: (cool)
Author: dark_light
Amariah blinks.

"...Do you want me to visit your place and sprinkle bayleaves on her and stuff? I can't make her invulnerable, but I can help."
eversomuchfun: Looking sideways. (== you will ever lie to me)
Author: eversomuchfun
"Yes," he says immediately. "Please."
dark_light: (unimpressed)
Author: dark_light
"If this is your first time here," Amariah says, "then you won't know - the place has a time-distortion effect and if everything goes normally you'll leave at the same time you came in. So there's no hurry, but if you haven't been here before you also don't know how routinely you find the door... Jarvis -" She pauses, assessing his reaction to the mention.
eversomuchfun: Speaking, perhaps impatiently. (>= do I make myself understood?)
Author: eversomuchfun
He doesn't react visibly, just waits for her to continue.
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
"...Could open a door with perfect reliability, but everyone else is stuck with some amount of chance. My boyfriend finds this place every couple of months; I've never found it on my own yet. Shell Bell used to wait a year or more sometimes, between door-finding; her Sherlock gets better results and her Tony can sometimes get it on purpose but the other Tony couldn't and I don't remember about the other other Sherlock. We don't have stats on Angela or her boyfriend - he's an alt of mine - yet. And Stella didn't leave notes about her and her friends - Stella's boyfriend is also an alt of mine - but she did mention that she told Bar to give a Belltower key to the vampire us's daughter because she's here a lot and her mom isn't. My point is, I could wind up stuck in your world for a while, will I have a place to crash or should I see if Angela will buy me a hammock with her credit bracelets and hang it from my cloud-pine somewhere up in the sky?"
eversomuchfun: Looking ceilingward. (<= hardly very sensitive of you)
Author: eversomuchfun
"I am currently sleeping in a refitted crypt. There are probably more available. If you would prefer a hammock, by all means acquire one."
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"A crypt. Ah-huh. Am I liable to be shot down or something if I hammock in midair? I imagine your world doesn't have my sort of witches, or at least not exactly."
jovahs_heiress: (away)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"At the risk of further mockery about my world and my educational background and so on," says Angela, "why would anyone live in a crypt, and what is a vampire?"
eversomuchfun: Side-on in the dark; expression not visible. (== a degree of humanity)
Author: eversomuchfun
"A vampire is a former human with no heartbeat who drinks blood," says Sherlock. "In my world they look like this."

He shifts to vampire face: nose and brow ridged in an artificial snarl, teeth long and sharp and dangerous, eyes a wolfish yellow.

"Except, of course," he reverts to his human face again, "when they don't. I live in a crypt because I catch fire when exposed to sunlight, so participating in normal human society is generally hazardous to my health, and the town of Sunnydale is oversupplied with graveyards so there are plenty of crypts to go around."
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Angela startles when his face changes, although she recovers faster than she did when Petaal shifted shape. "That's..." She doesn't seem to know whether it would be rude to say whatever she had in mind. "I am learning a lot today," she says vaguely instead.
dark_light: (squinting)
Author: dark_light
"If there is some danger of my being observed and subsequently harassed there are spells for that, I just need to know if I should cast them," Amariah prompts.
eversomuchfun: Hands. (== I think that's sorted)
Author: eversomuchfun
"Yes, sorry," he says. "You might not have trouble in some places, but I would take the precautions if I were you. In Sunnydale there is always the chance someone will decide you'd make a nice midnight snack, floating in the sky or no."
dark_light: (cool)
Author: dark_light
"Notice-me-nots, check. Remind me to get some tea tree oil from Bar before we leave," says Amariah.
eversomuchfun: Side-on in the dark; expression not visible. (== a degree of humanity)
Author: eversomuchfun
"Will do," he says.
jovahs_heiress: (unsure)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Are your worlds similar, or are you both just better at dealing with inter-world chaos than I am?" asks Angela weakly.
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"I'm from Earth, summer of 2013, and I live in the United States, Maine for the time being," Amariah volunteers to Sherlock. "We've got witches and humans and panserbjorne, in the sentient-critters department."
eversomuchfun: Smiling slightly. (!= merely an abomination of nature)
Author: eversomuchfun
"Earth; winter of 2005; Sunnydale, California; and we have literally uncounted sentient species, in that no one has ever been able to accurately count them, but humans and vampires are probably the two largest populations. The existence of anything other than humans is not widely known."
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"Why's everyone else hiding?" asks Amariah, reaching up to scratch under her chin, then noticing this is ineffective and scratching under Path's beak instead. "And how old's Juliet?"
eversomuchfun: Hands. (== I think that's sorted)
Author: eversomuchfun
"It's easier to eat people who don't know you exist. She's about seventeen, I think; I haven't looked it up."
dark_light: (skyward)
Author: dark_light
"Huh. I'm almost nineteen, so older but not by much; I was born in ninety-four. In a few decades I'll have a lovely patina of ageless witchiness though. Before you ask, I haven't figured out to make non-witches as immortal as we are," she adds regretfully. "I'm working on it, but the absolute truth device is limited to communicating through an array of thirty-six symbols with layers of meaning, and I can barely read it myself anyway, my boyfriend has to do most of it. It helps but I have legwork to do."
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I'm eighteen and I was born in. Well. Six hundred fifty-six," says Angela. "But that's counted from the founding of Samaria. Generations ago the years were counted from some other time that doesn't seem to be written down anywhere."
eversomuchfun: Side-on in the dark; expression not visible. (== a degree of humanity)
Author: eversomuchfun
"Best of luck," he says to Amariah. "Do let us know when you've worked it out. If Juliet does not manage to make herself immortal somehow or other, I am going to be very upset when she dies."
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
"Well, you can try me again when I've made more progress, or, talk to Stella or Shell Bell who's got a copy of her magic, or possibly Golden - we're not sure she'll go by Golden as she hasn't been by in person yet, but it seems likely - and they'll be able to take care of it. Golden's probably a last resort if there's enough hope you'll run into one of the others of us, though, since her way involves a species change and stuff. We all get along with each other and we'll be more than happy to help your Juliet with immortality," says Amariah encouragingly. "Or she might work it out herself, given enough magic to play with. In the meantime I can make her somewhat less vulnerable to physical harm."
eversomuchfun: Smiling slightly. (!= merely an abomination of nature)
Author: eversomuchfun
He smiles.

"A lovely bunch you Bellas are."
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"Sherlocks seem to be friendly sorts as well," says Amariah pleasantly. She finishes her lunch. "I think I'll leave it up to Juliet whether you get a Belltower key, but d'you want to come see the place and read the guestbook?"
eversomuchfun: Grinning or laughing. (!= all the way to the kettle)
Author: eversomuchfun
"Love to."
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
Two Isabellas and one Sherlock proceed up the stairs and into the Belltower. Amariah waves at the bedroom with the closed door. "Don't go in there. Our boyfriends are each other, and any time one of 'em meets another of 'em there's going to be kinky carryings-on. I mean, unless you want to participate in kinky carryings-on with our boyfriends, in which case you could inquire."

The guestbook contains profiles and a visit log of which (isa)bell(a)s encountered which other (isa)bell(a)s, and Stella's secondhand description of Golden, her empire, and her world standing in as a placeholder until Golden appears in person or authorizes her and Edward's daughter Elspeth to do it for her.
jovahs_heiress: (breathe)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Angela sighs slightly at the mention of their boyfriends participating in kinky carryings-on, but she shakes it off and murmurs very softly about Jovah having a plan.
eversomuchfun: Looking ceilingward. (<= hardly very sensitive of you)
Author: eversomuchfun
"I won't interrupt them in the middle, anyway," he says. "That would just be rude."

The guestbook is fascinating. Sherlock reads it through.
dark_light: (cool)
Author: dark_light
"Are you anywhere near your Juliet on your end?" asks Amariah. "If you are you could just stick your head out the door and yell and we could do the bayleaves and stuff here and she could see the place and add a picture. Oh, Angela, you haven't added a picture yet -"

The walls are now decorated with more pictures than there are (isa)bell(a)s apart from Angela, since Amariah put up two, one of Forks and one of the cloudpine forest; Stella added an aerial view of Olympus and Shell Bell has at some point been here and encountered no one but did decide to show off her Coral Palace.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I think I have the hang of the bar. I'll go get a nice view of the Eyrie," says Angela, and out she goes.
eversomuchfun: Hands. (== I think that's sorted)
Author: eversomuchfun
"Unfortunately, no," he says. "The other side of the door for me is the inside of the aforementioned crypt; I was just stepping out to walk to her house. I assume the location is variable? Some other time it might decide to usurp the door to a janitor's closet or public bathroom?"
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
"On the way in, yes, it can be any door."
eversomuchfun: Side-on in the dark; expression not visible. (== a degree of humanity)
Author: eversomuchfun
"But the way out remains fixed until I take it. Convenient, that."
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"It is, yeah. Some things can reportedly screw it up, but if all you do is come in, order some food, talk to people, and go home, you'll be fine."
eversomuchfun: Looking sideways. (== you will ever lie to me)
Author: eversomuchfun
"I see."
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Angela returns with a lovely poster - matching in size and type the others in the Belltower - with an aerial view of the Eyrie, and hangs it up just to the left of the door. "There," she says. "That's where I live."
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
"Pretty," comments Amariah. "Carved into the mountain like that, too, neat."
eversomuchfun: Hands. (== I think that's sorted)
Author: eversomuchfun
"Yes, it's lovely," Sherlock agrees.
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
"So you and Juliet," says Amariah. "Why do you call her Juliet? I did attend human school a little and now I'm wondering... Also, in case you were wondering, Shell Bell and her Sherlock are the cutest thing of all time."
eversomuchfun: Grinning or laughing. (!= all the way to the kettle)
Author: eversomuchfun
"Oh, a while ago I threw a rock at her window and then recited the opening lines of the balcony scene because it seemed hilarious at the time. It hasn't stopped seeming hilarious yet, and she likes the name. The fact that one of her is dating one of me is, I admit, a fascinating piece of information."
dark_light: (la la)
Author: dark_light
"Until you showed up I thought Kas and his alts were the only repeats, since Golden's husband is unique and the other Sherlock I met besides you and Shell Bell's didn't have a Bell of any sort, but maybe Sherlocks are interdimensionally popular among Bells too," says Amariah. "So you like Juliet but you're not dating her? Yet?"
eversomuchfun: Looking ceilingward. (<= hardly very sensitive of you)
Author: eversomuchfun
"That's about the size of it."
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"Doesn't she know you like her? Why hasn't she jumped you yet? You're cute." Pause. "Is it the parasitized soul thing, is that freaking her out?"
eversomuchfun: Side-on in the dark; expression not visible. (== a degree of humanity)
Author: eversomuchfun
"It may very well be," he says. "Vampires and Slayers are not exactly traditional allies; there was a certain amount of distrust when we first met. Distrust and crossbow bolts. And she certainly knows I like her, but she has not expressed any interest in return since I mentioned it."
dark_light: (la la)
Author: dark_light
"Huh. I'd sleep with you except - my problem isn't that your soul's got a parasite, it's that it's got you in the way of it, and Path'd be sitting in a corner with nothing to do, and unoccupied daemons do not pleasing encounters make."
jovahs_heiress: (breathe)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Sweet Jovah singing," mutters Angela.
dark_light: (why yes)
Author: dark_light
"Relax. If it's any consolation, Golden and her husband, totally monogamous," says Amariah to her counterpart reassuringly. "You can hang out on that end of the spectrum and I'll be over here hitting on cute boys trying to figure out what to do with my Path."
eversomuchfun: Grinning or laughing. (!= all the way to the kettle)
Author: eversomuchfun
"Would it work out any better if we threw your boyfriend in the mix?" he inquires.
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
"You know, it would," says Amariah brightly. "We can suggest it when they're done with Micaiah. ...Angela. Angela, Micaiah will be just like you left him, okay, this doesn't represent a fundamental personality change."
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I believe you, I'm just - adjusting," says Angela. "It's very strange to be called Angela in this context. Back home it's a polite thing to call a female angel, like 'ma'am' for mortals. I feel like you're being very formal."
eversomuchfun: Hands. (== I think that's sorted)
Author: eversomuchfun
"I look forward to hearing his answer," Sherlock says cheerfully.
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
"I am not really finding it likely that he'll turn down the proposition," says Amariah. "While we wait, let's talk protection spells - I can conjure up many of the materials I'll need on the spot, but some of them I'll want to get from Bar before we leave, like the tea tree oil, and you know better than I do what sorts of threats Juliet's up against." And she starts listing protective blessings and enchantments and tattoos she can do.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Angela half-listens, and also adds an entry to the guestbook about who she has met today and what has been discussed.
eversomuchfun: Side-on in the dark; expression not visible. (== a degree of humanity)
Author: eversomuchfun
Sherlock happily offers opinions and information. Physical protections are the highest priority, but that doesn't mean other protections should be neglected, as long as he thinks they're reasonably likely to transfer well.
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
Amariah writes down notes. "She might veto the tattoos," she says. "Kas has a bayleaf, but he doesn't mind being marked up and he definitely doesn't mind it hurting. I cursed him with cluster headaches a while ago as a present and he complains when I suppress them because I'm worried Petaal's going to crash her cloudpine if one strikes at the wrong moment."
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Is that something I'll have to find a way to live with too?" Angela asks. "Or - no. Oh, Jovah's good, he took care of it already." She smiles.
dark_light: (squinting)
Author: dark_light
"...Your god handled your boyfriend being a masochist for you already?"
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Angela taps the Kiss in her arm. "I mentioned that Jovah chose us for each other. There's the colors, but many people's Kisses also hurt when they're active. Mine doesn't. Micaiah's does, especially when I sing." Pause. "He makes the most curious faces sometimes..."
dark_light: (la la)
Author: dark_light
"Oh. Convenient!" says Amariah approvingly. "And yeah, I absolutely hear you about the faces."
eversomuchfun: Grinning or laughing. (!= all the way to the kettle)
Author: eversomuchfun
Sherlock laughs. "I really must meet this person," he remarks. "Both of him."
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"There's a bunch running around. There's ours, there's Stella's, there's the one Stella put on an asteroid and Shell Bell shot so she could take his stuff."
eversomuchfun: Smiling slightly. (!= merely an abomination of nature)
Author: eversomuchfun
"Yes, he was in the guestbook. I don't remember Shell Bell mentioning anything about shooting him, however."
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
"She didn't write it down, but she told me about it. When she was resource-collecting, she found that one, he recognized her as one of Stella, and he said she could have his guns if she shot him with one of them. And she was like, '...okaaaaay...' and she shot him and took his stuff." Amariah shrugs. "He was all right, it turned out, Kas is always very excited to see him when they run into each other, but don't assume you can collect arbitrary injuries here - he shows up in his dreams when he's asleep, not through doors."
eversomuchfun: Smiling, perhaps falsely. (!= oh yes—hilarious)
Author: eversomuchfun
"I am already pretty durable, except when it comes to fire, sunlight, and a few other things. Perks of vampirism."
dark_light: (la la)
Author: dark_light
"I won't mutter any ignition spells, then," says Amariah pleasantly.
eversomuchfun: Smiling slightly. (!= merely an abomination of nature)
Author: eversomuchfun
"You're too kind," he says, laughing.
dark_light: (unimpressed)
Author: dark_light
"The sunlight thing is sad. I suppose you can't even feel moonlight and starlight to compensate," she says.
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"...Can you?" Angela asks. "I didn't think mort- I thought only angels could. Flying at night is -"
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
"Oh it's the best thing," enthuses Amariah. "Like silk ribbons or snow or - you get it too? I thought it was only witches, Petaal can get it if she shifts right but -"
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Yes I feel it, it's exactly indescribable but that's what I'd say if I had to explain it too, silk ribbons or snow - there's nothing as soothing as going aloft in the dark and just having it pour over my wings -"

And then both Isabellas are hugging each other, chattering about celestial light and night-flying.
eversomuchfun: Smiling contentedly, eyes closed. (<= contains no moving parts)
Author: eversomuchfun
Awwwww.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"How fast does your branch go, anyway?"
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
"If I really open it up? Maybe a hundred and ten miles an hour overland in good weather," says Amariah. "Why, you wanna race?"
jovahs_heiress: (considering)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I would," laughs Angela, "but you're more than twice as fast as me! It wouldn't be interesting. Oh well."
truthwright: (⑷ sweet sweet thing)
Author: truthwright
The closed bedroom door opens, and out comes Kas with Petaal perched on his shoulder as an ermine.

"Hi, guys!"
dark_light: (why yes)
Author: dark_light
"Hi!" says Amariah. "You all worn out? This is yet a third Sherlock we found downstairs. His soul is not only interior but also parasitized by a demonic creature."
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Angela peers around Kas to see what's going on with Micaiah.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
A nap is going on.
truthwright: (⑸ got no innocence)
Author: truthwright
"Huh," says Kas.

"He's cute," says Petaal.
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
"That's what I said," says Amariah. "But golly, Path would just be bored..."
truthwright: (⑷ sweet sweet thing)
Author: truthwright
"I could keep him company," Petaal offers slyly.
dark_light: (la la)
Author: dark_light
"What a clever idea," says Amariah. "Oh, unrelated, I'm also going to pop into Sherlock's world, he's got a Bella - we're calling her Juliet until she picks something - and she needs a nice array of protective spells - but that can wait."
truthwright: (⑶ anticipatin' fun)
Author: truthwright
Kas beams.

To Sherlock: "Wanna go have sex with us?"
eversomuchfun: Smiling slightly. (!= merely an abomination of nature)
Author: eversomuchfun
"I would be delighted."
dark_light: (why yes)
Author: dark_light
And into the bedroom that does not contain a Micaiah they go.
jovahs_heiress: (breathe)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella takes the notebook she was using earlier, and flops next to her napping Micaiah and puts her wing over him, and processes with very quiet penstrokes.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah snuggles her sleepily, but doesn't wake up.
dark_light: (path)
Author: dark_light
Path still doesn't go on long trips away from his Isabella, but he can fly again and he's willing to stop touching her occasionally. He flutters out of the way so that Isabella can sidle up to Sherlock without interference, and he hoots at Petaal.
truthwright: (⑷ sweet sweet thing)
Author: truthwright
Petaal shifts angel and holds out her arms.
eversomuchfun: Looking sideways. (== you will ever lie to me)
Author: eversomuchfun
Meanwhile, Sherlock is giving Kas a speculative look.

"How do you feel about teeth?" he inquires.
truthwright: (⑴ my troubles  will be few)
Author: truthwright
"Pretty fucking good!"
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
Path flies contentedly towards Petaal's outstretched hands.

"Ooh," says Amariah, tilting her head. "Interesting. You might have to bite a little harder than you'd expect if you're aiming for blood, since he's got a bayleaf." She sits over by Petaal and Path, and reaches speculatively for an angel wing.
eversomuchfun: Grinning or laughing. (!= all the way to the kettle)
Author: eversomuchfun
"I am not opposed to putting in the effort," he says.
truthwright: (⑸ got no innocence)
Author: truthwright
Petaal extends her wings and curves one around Amariah as she cuddles Path.

Kas steps up to Sherlock and leans down to kiss him.
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
Amariah supervises. "This really is very snuggly," she remarks in an undertone to Petaal.
truthwright: (⑹ of all that you could see)
Author: truthwright
"I know," sighs Petaal. "I love you."
eversomuchfun: Smiling, perhaps falsely. (!= oh yes—hilarious)
Author: eversomuchfun
Halfway through the kiss, Sherlock shows fang.
truthwright: (⑵ talk about cut of meat)
Author: truthwright
"Aren't you fun," says Kas.
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
Amariah snuggles up to her enclosing wing but makes sure she retains a view. Kas is presumably about to make some really interesting faces.
eversomuchfun: Grinning or laughing. (!= all the way to the kettle)
Author: eversomuchfun
"I like to think so," he says, and bites the side of Kas's neck.
truthwright: (⒀ and an old man's heart)
Author: truthwright
Amariah was so right about those faces.
dark_light: (cool)
Author: dark_light
Hot.

Amariah is still wearing clothes. Why is she still wearing clothes? She stops.
truthwright: (⑸ got no innocence)
Author: truthwright
All the better for Petaal to give her wing-snuggles!
eversomuchfun: Smiling, perhaps falsely. (!= oh yes—hilarious)
Author: eversomuchfun
Amariah was also right about it taking more effort than he's used to.

But the reward is more than worth it.
truthwright: (⑽ something inexpressible)
Author: truthwright
And the faces Kas makes when Sherlock finally gets his teeth in are even more interesting.
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
Nnnnnf.

(Amariah makes sure she remembers the words to a first-aid spell particularly aimed at blood loss. She doesn't expect him to go dangerously overboard, but Kas and Petaal having energy could be important later.)
truthwright: (⑷ sweet sweet thing)
Author: truthwright


"That's enough, honey," Kas murmurs.
eversomuchfun: Smiling slightly. (!= merely an abomination of nature)
Author: eversomuchfun
He defangs and licks at the shallow bite mark on Kas's neck, humming contentedly.
dark_light: (why yes)
Author: dark_light
"First aid magic, yes or no?"
truthwright: (⑹ of all that you could see)
Author: truthwright
"Yeah, sure," he says lazily.
dark_light: (yikes)
Author: dark_light
The spell's not in English. Isabella tosses it off like a nursery rhyme.

Except for a sudden tone shift at the last syllable when her expression goes darker, Path's feathers fluff out, and she reaches out to take Path back from Petaal.

"Sorry," she mutters. "Sorry."
truthwright: (⑿ when all the world's asleep)
Author: truthwright
"Aw, sweetie," says Kas.

Petaal scoots closer and hugs Isabella with arms and wings.
eversomuchfun: Looking sideways. (== you will ever lie to me)
Author: eversomuchfun
"...What is it?"
dark_light: (pensive)
Author: dark_light
"Last time I had to use that spell..." Isabella takes a deep breath, inhaling through Path's feathers. "Was on Path. Less friendly circumstances."
eversomuchfun: Side-on in the dark; expression not visible. (== a degree of humanity)
Author: eversomuchfun
"Sorry to hear it," Sherlock says sincerely.
dark_light: (pensive)
Author: dark_light
"I'll be fine in a minute. Just - still recovering. It was..." She trails off and just cradles her daemon, huddled under Petaal's wing. "Kas can tell the story. It's not a secret. The bastard's dead."
truthwright: (⑻ who i really am)
Author: truthwright
"Most people's daemons can barely go across the room from them, but witches are different," says Kas. "She sent Path on an errand once and some complete sack of shit caught him on the way. It's already the worst thing in the world when somebody touches your daemon that you don't want to, but the asshole tortured him too."
eversomuchfun: Looking sideways. (== you will ever lie to me)
Author: eversomuchfun


"I see," he murmurs.
dark_light: (pensive)
Author: dark_light
"Witches aren't fundamentally different. We just make separation conventional instead of exceptional, and have access to the Waste," murmurs Isabella. "It isn't easier for us as a group. Some people have to try several times to get across the Waste. Kas was able to send Petaal after Path even though they weren't separated before. But Path was hours away."
truthwright: (⑿ when all the world's asleep)
Author: truthwright
"I had to," says Petaal, hugging Isabella some more and leaning down to give Path a kiss. "I just had to, that's all."
dark_light: (skyward)
Author: dark_light
"Thanks," says Isabella, looking up at Petaal gratefully. She seems mostly recovered from her flashback. "If you hadn't we'd be dead."
truthwright: (⑻ who i really am)
Author: truthwright
Petaal kisses Isabella, too, for good measure.
dark_light: (cool)
Author: dark_light
Mmm kisses.

"I'm okay again," Isabella announces. "They're getting fewer and farther between and briefer every time, I just haven't dug out all the landmines in my head yet."
eversomuchfun: Smiling slightly. (!= merely an abomination of nature)
Author: eversomuchfun
"Well, I am glad you're all right," says Sherlock.
truthwright: (⑻ who i really am)
Author: truthwright


Impulsively, Kas hugs him.
dark_light: (unimpressed)
Author: dark_light
"I'm glad I'm all right too." She kisses Path's head and hands him back to Petaal.
truthwright: (⑹ of all that you could see)
Author: truthwright
Petaal snuggles him lovingly.
eversomuchfun: Grinning or laughing. (!= all the way to the kettle)
Author: eversomuchfun
Sherlock grins and hugs Kas back, then kisses him again. Why are they still wearing all these clothes? Amariah had the right idea about those.
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
Mmm. Disrobing boys. In a context that makes this relevant instead of akin to cereal-eating. Amariah approves.
truthwright: (⑸ got no innocence)
Author: truthwright
There is a certain element of performance to it, too. Kas happens to think it's more fun that way.
eversomuchfun: Smiling contentedly, eyes closed. (<= contains no moving parts)
Author: eversomuchfun
Sherlock does not disagree.
dark_light: (why yes)
Author: dark_light
Hmm. Amariah wonders if it would interfere with this performance if she helped.
truthwright: (⑴ my troubles  will be few)
Author: truthwright
Not at all.
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
Amariah can be so helpful!

(She can also scrape her fingernails across the trace that's left of that bite mark.)
truthwright: (⑵ talk about cut of meat)
Author: truthwright
...That is pretty fucking helpful, yeah.
eversomuchfun: Smiling slightly. (!= merely an abomination of nature)
Author: eversomuchfun
"He does make such delightful faces, doesn't he?"
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
"I know. You should see him when a cluster headache grabs him. I can't trigger those, sadly, they appear at random, flaw in the curse design."
truthwright: (⒀ and an old man's heart)
Author: truthwright
...As though on cue, Kas bites his lip.
eversomuchfun: Looking ceilingward. (<= hardly very sensitive of you)
Author: eversomuchfun
"Are you sure?"
dark_light: (why yes)
Author: dark_light
"Very sure, but coincidences happen." She kisses Kas.
truthwright: (⑶ anticipatin' fun)
Author: truthwright
He kisses back.
eversomuchfun: Grinning or laughing. (!= all the way to the kettle)
Author: eversomuchfun
Sherlock grins.
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
Far less coincidental goings-on ensue.

Isabella takes Path back again after the excitement dies down, but she's not in any hurry to get dressed again.
eversomuchfun: Smiling slightly. (!= merely an abomination of nature)
Author: eversomuchfun
And Sherlock is pretty happy curled up next to Kas, taking unnecessary breaths to enjoy the fading smell of his blood.
truthwright: (⑺ have things my own way)
Author: truthwright
A still-angel-shaped Petaal flops onto the bed, behind Kas and Sherlock, and very intentionally lets her wing settle over both of them.
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
Amariah notes this - she doesn't think it's a matter of course, even for a daemon as gregarious as Petaal - but it hardly surprises her.
eversomuchfun: Hands. (== I think that's sorted)
Author: eversomuchfun
He holds perfectly still for a moment.

Then, smiling softly, he strokes Petaal's feathers.
truthwright: (⑷ sweet sweet thing)
Author: truthwright
She hums and snuggles up closer.
dark_light: (cool)
Author: dark_light
Isabella snuggles under the other wing. They're big; she's not in anybody's way over here.
truthwright: (⑸ got no innocence)
Author: truthwright
Petaal scoots over to give Isabella a kiss, then climbs right on top of Kas to do the same with Sherlock.
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
Mmmm afterglowy kisses.
truthwright: (⑶ anticipatin' fun)
Author: truthwright
She kisses Kas, too, for the pure delighted hell of it.

Then she leans close to Sherlock and murmurs, "So where's those teeth my sweetie liked so much?"
eversomuchfun: Mocking. (<= it must have burned)
Author: eversomuchfun
...He grins.

"Oh, would you like them too?"
dark_light: (skyward)
Author: dark_light
"She's also got a bayleaf," yawns Isabella, snuggling up to the now somewhat more accessible Kas. "But I bet you noticed that."
eversomuchfun: Grinning or laughing. (!= all the way to the kettle)
Author: eversomuchfun
"I did, yes," he says, and obligingly enfangs again.
truthwright: (⑺ have things my own way)
Author: truthwright
Kas manages to free one arm from the rest of the cuddlepile so he can wrap it around Isabella's shoulders.

Petaal cuddles down and bends her head so her neck is right by Sherlock's mouth.
eversomuchfun: Smiling slightly. (!= merely an abomination of nature)
Author: eversomuchfun
With his hands drifting lightly over her feathers, he bites.
truthwright: (⑸ got no innocence)
Author: truthwright
Kas was right, that is nice.
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
Petaal makes faces too. (And for that matter, Kas is probably mirroring her, he can feel the pain if not the details, but he's facing the wrong way.)
truthwright: (⑹ of all that you could see)
Author: truthwright
Petaal lifts her head again and resettles into the cuddlepile. She wants to be touching everyone.
eversomuchfun: Smiling contentedly, eyes closed. (<= contains no moving parts)
Author: eversomuchfun
Sherlock kisses her freshly bitten neck.

Snuggle time? Looks like snuggle time. Warm feathery snuggle time.
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
Mmmm, warm feathery snuggle time. Isabella approves.



Ultimately, though, she gets antsy, and she's wondering if Angela is even still there; they haven't talked about everything they might wish to talk about, after all. She slips out and ties her silks back on. "Can I throw a blanket over you guys for Angela's sensibilities before I go see if she's still there?"
eversomuchfun: Smiling slightly. (!= merely an abomination of nature)
Author: eversomuchfun
"Certainly," says Sherlock.
truthwright: (⑷ sweet sweet thing)
Author: truthwright
"Go for it," Kas agrees.
dark_light: (cool)
Author: dark_light
Isabella blankets them, does up the last knots on her silks, and slips out.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Angela is notebooking in the other bedroom, wing flung over Micaiah. "Hi," she says when Amariah comes out. "...Have fun?"
dark_light: (skyward)
Author: dark_light
"Heaps," agrees Amariah, stretching. "You getting lots of good processing done? I'm all for notebooks but I really don't know how you other bells manage without daemons."
jovahs_heiress: (considering)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I'm managing. I don't know about the others. Is that what we're calling the class? Bells?"
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"It's the only part of the name that always crop up. You and I aren't Swans, Shell Bell isn't an Isabella or even a Bella. Actually, I think this is why Alice's middle name is given as Whistle. Bells and whistles...? Do you not have that expression in Samaria? Well, anyway, I'm going to start calling Kas/Micaiah/Alice/Joker types Whistles as a group. I'm going to make a note of that in the guestbook."
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I've never heard the expression," says Angela.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I have," says Micaiah, poking his head out from under Angela's wing. "I think it's cute."
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Okay. You're a Whistle," she says, kissing his temple, "and I'm a Bell."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
He giggles.

"I love you," he says, and snuggles down under her wing again.
jovahs_heiress: (away)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I'd get up, but Micaiah's not wearing anything," says Angela. "If you could close the door real quick...?"
dark_light: (why yes)
Author: dark_light
"Yeah, sure, whatever you need to do," says Amariah, shutting their door. She writes a note about "Whistles" in the guestbook.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"If you could just put something on? Amariah doesn't care, but anyone might come in - well, any of me and their friends."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I don't care either," he points out. "But sure."
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Others of me might. Or their friends. It's not all Whistles and Sherlocks - Stella's notes about Golden have her husband down as Edward and she refers to him as being 'uptight', for instance."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Okay." He gives her a kiss and retrieves his clothes from the floor.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Once he's reasonably decent Angela exits the room and sits with Amariah and they swap life stories some more.
eversomuchfun: Looking ceilingward. (<= hardly very sensitive of you)
Author: eversomuchfun
Some time later—a long time later—Sherlock emerges from the bedroom where Amariah last saw him. He looks very pleased with himself, in an understated sort of way.
dark_light: (why yes)
Author: dark_light
"Well, you look happy," says Amariah in the middle of a point-by-point comparison between Ranata Ekamma and the angel Rinnah.
eversomuchfun: Grinning or laughing. (!= all the way to the kettle)
Author: eversomuchfun
"I am sure you can guess why," he says cheerfully.
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
"Am I gonna have to carry them home?" she laughs.
eversomuchfun: Smiling slightly. (!= merely an abomination of nature)
Author: eversomuchfun
"I wouldn't rule it out."
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
"We're just about caught up here. If Angela'll spot me the credit for a hammock and the tea tree oil and whatnot so I can come home with you and help out Juliet, I'll help you carry them downstairs, dump them out in the living room through my door, and then visit your place and work some magic."
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I'm happy to help with the purchases," says Angela.
eversomuchfun: Smiling, perhaps falsely. (!= oh yes—hilarious)
Author: eversomuchfun
"Do let's, then," says Sherlock.
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
And lo, the aforementioned plan was enacted, albeit with an extra step involving not violating Milliways's rule against public nudity.

The Isabellas hug goodbye. "You hanging out here for a bit longer?"
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Yeah... if it will really still be when I left after we go back, I think I'll stay a while, see who else I run into," says Angela. "This place is neat now that I'm a little more used to it."
dark_light: (unimpressed)
Author: dark_light
"Okay. Here's hoping we're in the Belltower at the same time again later!" says Amariah pleasantly, and she turns to Sherlock. "Door to Juliet's world?"
eversomuchfun: Hands. (== I think that's sorted)
Author: eversomuchfun
"Coming right up," he says, and opens it.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Angela asks Bar for an angel chair, gets one, and hauls it up to the Belltower so she'll have somewhere to sit that isn't the floor or the beds. She wants to hang out a little more to see if anyone else comes by. Perhaps she will get in a nap before going home, too, so that she can act as though it is five in the morning when she returns to the Eyrie.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah is still snuggled up in that bedroom. He's not really sleeping, but he's not really awake, either. Dozy. Dozy is a good word for him right now.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella places and sits in her new chair and writes notes on her encounter with Amariah in the guestbook.

She's just finishing up when -
self_composed: (fascinated)
Author: self_composed
- the door opens.

"Oh, you're new! Alice, lookit - oh, and she's got an alt of you too -"
edgeofyourseat: Grinning, friendly. (⑵ extraordinarily nice)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"Hi!" beams Alice.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah blinks up at the newcomers. Especially the one who is him.

Sleepily: "Can I fuck this one too?"
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I suppose so," says Angela dubiously. "Um, hello. If you're not new, I guess that narrows you down to 'Stella'? I'm going by Angela."
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"I'm Stella," agrees Stella. "Lemme read your entries? I'll be quick."

She is quick. "Fun," she remarks. "And you've read me - d'you want magic powers? Or rather do you want your - we're calling them Whistles now, cute, do you want your Whistle to have magic powers?"
edgeofyourseat: Smiling, conspiratorial or challenging. (⑷ wanna try?)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"Which one of us did you fuck already?" he asks Miciaiah.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Kas and Petaal," he says with a reminiscent smile.
jovahs_heiress: (breathe)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Yes, and then them and Amariah and Path all went into the other bedroom while Micaiah napped and indulged themselves with what I'm told is yet a third Sherlock who belongs to a Bell who has not yet been here herself," says Angela. "I didn't feel the need to commit that to paper, but as long as someone present is curious."
self_composed: (sarcastic)
Author: self_composed
"Ah-huh," says Stella. "You're having some trouble with this, aren't you."
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I'm managing," Angela asserts.
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"It says you met Amariah. I haven't run into her yet," comments Stella. "Was she helpful?"
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Yes, very. I believe she's going to try to come back with Sherlock's 'Juliet', but I don't know how long to expect that to take."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah decides that now is a good time to give his angel a hug.
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Angela is quite happy to give her mortal a hug right back.
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"Awww," sighs Stella. "...So, do you want some nigh-omnipotence? 'Cause I can give that out."
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Angela has already thought of this, reading through Shell Bell's notes.

"If Jovah wanted me to have those powers, I would have them already," she says steadily, through the dearest of temptation.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"...Why's that?" says Micaiah.
self_composed: (sarcastic)
Author: self_composed
"I am stunned," says Stella. "Are you sure you don't just happen to look like us? I suppose the parents' names would be a bit much of a coincidence..."
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I think I'm as much one of you as Amariah is," says Angela. "But my god doesn't work like her goddesses who don't care what she does. I want it, but - we have songs, prayers, already written down to teach us how to ask for everything Jovah is willing to offer. We're born with the capacity to learn, and angels with a few more blessings besides to carry out the god's work. Your magic isn't part of the world he made for us when he carried us away from our ancestor's home full of violence and hatred. If I do not already have these powers, it's because Jovah didn't choose to offer them to me."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah frowns in confusion.

"How do you know?"
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Jovah watches over us - the descendants of people who wanted to live a simple life without so much leverage over the world around us. We're always told that what was given up was technological, not magical, but the principle is the same, isn't it? Even now there is friction over things as simple as the batteries that Alleluia's husband invented. Just because I don't think I would misuse greater power than I have doesn't mean that it's safe to bring it into the world. I wasn't born with it; it's not intended for me."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"But you said Yovah can't just do things any old way," he says. "So what if Stella is the right way to give you magic powers, just like singing is the right way to ask for rain and the oracles are the right way to give him people's names?"
jovahs_heiress: (unsure)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Angela closes her eyes and considers this.

"If Jovah can hear me here," she says finally, "I'll consider that possibility. Amariah said there is an 'outside'? I don't think he could begrudge me some unnecessary rain or sunshine to see if he watches over here as everywhere."
self_composed: (calm)
Author: self_composed
"There's an outside. I'll show you. You're going to sing and rain will fall?" Stella asks. "That's an interesting system."
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I'm going to sing to ask for - well, rain, if there is none, sun if there is rain, I'll need to see it change to be sure," says Angela, getting up. "Micaiah, do you want to come aloft with me?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Yeah!"

He follows her.
self_composed: (skyward)
Author: self_composed
Stella shows them outside. She flies without the aid of wings. It's not currently raining, or even cloudy.
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Angela scoops up her Micaiah and takes off, carrying him high up, closer to the ear of the god - if he's here.

She sings, ignoring her floating duplicate and losing herself in the music.

(There is no other sensation to lose herself in. The air isn't... shifting, not even in the little ways it normally does after only the first verse of a prayer.)
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah snuggles into her arms.
jovahs_heiress: (concern)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Angela sings through the entire song into dead, unresponsive air, then shakes her head and lands. "He's not here. Or not listening. He's not present in the way he'd have to be for me to entertain the idea that Stella's his instrument."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Okay," shrugs Micaiah. "I still want magic powers, though."
self_composed: (calm)
Author: self_composed
"It makes more sense to give them to you anyway, assuming you're not unconventional-for-a-Whistle," says Stella. "The way it works is it turns pain into wishes."
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Angela shakes her head. "Jovah's not here to be offering us anything through Stella," she tells Micaiah. "If he wanted you to have powers he could have given them to you, too, they'd be - sealed away in an oracle's caverns in a box somewhere and when the time was right he'd tell the oracle to seek you out and present them to you, even if you weren't meant to have them from the beginning."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Maybe," he says doubtfully.
self_composed: (thoughtful)
Author: self_composed
"...Can I get you to take some coins?" Stella asks. "In case you change your mind? You can bring them home with you and lock them up and never think about them again if you want, but if your theological opinions shift a bit in a year, or two..."
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I'd be too tempted," says Angela. "Even if I weren't fully sure that Jovah wanted me to I'd always know they were there, it would itch, and even if I threw away the key, Micaiah can pick locks."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah shrugs.
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"It's very kind of you to offer," says Angela formally to Stella. "But I cannot accept."
self_composed: (go on)
Author: self_composed
"Okay. Color me surprised," says Stella. "We can still hang out, though, let's go back to the Belltower. You sing beautifully." She conjures a flute. "Want some accompaniment? I can improvise or conjure up sheet music for whatever song."
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"That sounds lovely," says Angela.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I like any plan where you sing," Micaiah says happily to Angela.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
A musical interlude at the Belltower ensues. Angela doesn't object to Stella using her magic for herself, even though a few more unexpected uses make her flinch enviously. But after it's been and gone and the Whistles have exchanged carnal knowledge and the Bells have swapped the more usual sort, Stella decides she is done for the day at Milliways and Angela is left up in the Belltower with just Micaiah. She decides to get in that nap she'd been thinking about.
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
...until more visitors barge in, not particularly quietly.

"Oh! Someone new!" exclaims a Bell.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah peeks out from under Angela's wing and waves cheerfully.
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I'm Shell Bell, and this is my Sherlock," says Shell Bell.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"It's lovely to meet you. I nicknamed myself Angela," says Angela. "I seem to have arrived on a high-traffic day. Amariah and Kas met us when we first came in, and then Amariah recognized an alt of Sherlock - a male one - who was here for the first time, and then after they'd gone Stella was here, and now you."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I guess if Stella's already met you I don't have to ask you if you want mint powers, then," says Shell Bell.
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"She made the offer," acknowledges Angela.
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)
Author: sicaria
"Why did you decline?"
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"How did you know I declined?"
sicaria: Sitting on a log. (⑻ who sits by herself)
Author: sicaria
She shrugs.

"Your phrasing makes the most sense in that context."
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I turned her down because I don't believe Jovah wants me to have that kind of power. For a moment Micaiah had me half-convinced that Stella was an instrument of Jovah, but he can't even hear me here. I went outside and tried praying for rain and none fell; he wasn't listening."
sicaria: Looking up, thoughtful. (⑼ a brief and thoughtful moment)
Author: sicaria
"...If I knew of someone who did not want Bell to have access to a mint," says Sherlock, "I would start to question that person's judgment on other matters."
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I - have no idea what to say to that," says Angela frankly. "I... well. Jovah isn't a withholding god or anything. When I'm home, if I pray for something, it falls. But our ancestors gave up a lot of less divine power to be able to live in harmony with each other, and Jovah carried them to Samaria, and I don't think suddenly disrupting that with a gift that cannot possibly have any connection to him would be wise. However tempting it is."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"We could ask an oracle," Micaiah suggests.
jovahs_heiress: (upward)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"We could. I think I'd want to make a trip to Gaza for that, though, Peninnah knows me well enough to let one strange question slide," says Angela, laughing weakly. "And if he says no, or if he's cryptic - he often is - I can't have any of those coins sitting around itching at me. So I'd have to hope to meet one of you again if Jovah said it was all right."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"We could come visit your world," says Shell Bell. "I promise not to use magic in unapproved ways on your world or give you powers unless Jovah says it's okay, but then you wouldn't risk being stuck without access to them for years if it did turn out to be fine. I mean, if you want to go on a trip, Sherlock," she adds. "But I think I could use a vacation from dealing with Coin, and all the appeals from the moon, and - everything."
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria
"I think that would be lovely," says Sherlock.
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"We should ask Tony if he wants to come before we go anywhere, though."
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Oh, that's right, Sherlocks usually come with Tonies, I remember Amariah asking the one from earlier about his. Apparently that one died. I'm glad yours is intact. If only the door functioned a little more cooperatively we could organize some kind of - not reunion, but a possibly comforting meeting."
sicaria: In bed, not sleeping. (⒀ no rest for the wicked)
Author: sicaria


pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah looks at Sherlock with concern. "Are you okay?"
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)
Author: sicaria
"Yes. But I doubt that other Sherlock is."
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"He - I don't remember the exact words. He said that some vampires killed Tony and also Jarvis - you're the one who doesn't have a Jarvis, yes? - and turned him into a vampire as well, and then he killed those responsible and started looking for a reason not to set himself on fire, and he found a Bell alt I've written some secondhand notes about from his description. Temporary nickname of Juliet. And she's - diverting enough, I guess? Amariah wound up going to his world with him to cast some protective magic over Juliet."
she_sells_seashells: (unsettled)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"That's awful. I'm not sure if meeting an alt would help, though. I'm not sure how I'd react if I met an alt of a dead loved one. Sherlock, what do you think, is it worth going out of our way to look for that one?"
sicaria: In profile, looking down. (⑾ time to go home)
Author: sicaria
"It is."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Will do, then. Angela, do you know if he's distinct in some obvious way from the other other Sherlock?" Pause. "Sherlocks might also need to start picking nicknames."
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Well, Amariah could tell almost immediately by looking at him that something was different with his soul. I don't know if that's a sense you have or can acquire; she said it was related to her daemon, or being accustomed to daemons, or something."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Kas couldn't do it," says Micaiah.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"It could also be because she's a witch," says Angela.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I think I'd want to know more about what I'm looking for, soul-wise, before trying to design a power to see it," muses Shell Bell.
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)
Author: sicaria
"I wonder how to nickname us," Sherlock says thoughtfully. "We might need to have a conference on the matter."
jovahs_heiress: (upward)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Why would you need a conference? We're all settling on unique names without trouble," says Angela.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I don't know how you picked yours, or where 'Juliet' came from, but mine's a nickname I've had since I was eight, and Stella and Golden both have... empire themes, of sorts, that they just extended to their nicknames, and Amariah just picked the other piece of her name. The Sherlocks don't tend to have empires with themes, or nicknames intended for general use - not unique ones, particularly - or much name variation. I mean, my Sherlock is surnamed Stark and the other one we met isn't, but calling her Stark wouldn't work because that's all the Tonies' last name. So they'd have a little more trouble hitting non-redundant targets."
sicaria: In profile, looking down. (⑾ time to go home)
Author: sicaria
Sherlock nods.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Juliet is something Juliet's Sherlock calls her. I got the impression it was a reference to something," says Angela. "And on my world, 'angela' is a polite thing to call a female angel, like 'ma'am' or 'lady' - it's not ideal but I couldn't think of anything else and I'll at least turn my head when someone says it."
sicaria: Looking up, thoughtful. (⑼ a brief and thoughtful moment)
Author: sicaria
"So, as I said. A conference."
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Or you could each let your Bells name you and hope the one who doesn't have a Bell lands on something else, if we're the ones who are different enough to come up with different things. I didn't name Micaiah, but Amariah named Kas and his daemon. And I don't know where Alice's first name came from, but Whistle and Swan are clearly borrowings from Stella."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I have no idea what I'd call my Sherlock, if I had to think of something," laughs Shell Bell. "The only thing coming to mind is 'Valentine' after that dreadful holiday and I don't want to call you that."
sicaria: Looking over shoulder. (⑹ look what the cat dragged in)
Author: sicaria
"I don't know, I think it's charming," she says.
she_sells_seashells: (skyward)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Shell Bell snorts. "Put in a request for it at your conference," she suggests, chuckling.

(She doesn't read Sherlock all the time by default - there's far too much to track if she wants to concentrate on anything else and Sherlock isn't explicitly slowing down for her - but she can tell when her girlfriend is making a deadpan joke.)
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Dreadful holiday?" asks Angela blankly.
she_sells_seashells: (preoccupied)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"If you ever see Milliways decorated in red and pink and white and this shape -" Shell Bell gestures - "run. It's celebrated with little darts of mind-altering drugs that make you fall in love with whoever you're with. It was horrible. It showed me what it'd be like to be in love with Sherlock so I could do it on purpose later, which is lovely, but the experience itself was terrifying and you've already got your Whistle."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah hugs his angel again.

"I don't want weird holiday drugs making you fall in love with me," he says.
jovahs_heiress: (concern)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I don't want weird holiday drugs making me do anything," says Angela, folding a wing around Micaiah. "That sounds utterly horrific. Whose idea was that?"
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"If we knew, they'd be very unhappy that we'd found out," says Shell Bell lightly.
sicaria: Smiling, perhaps angrily. (⑷ consider yourself murdered)
Author: sicaria
(Sherlock smiles in agreement.)
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
(Shell Bell kisses her cheek.)
jovahs_heiress: (upward)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I see what Amariah meant about you being adorable," muses Angela.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"They aaaaaare," says Micaiah.
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"...Is that what goes around about us, 'keep an eye out for Shell Bell and her Sherlock, they're adorable', not... 'and then there's Shell Bell, her empire is called Atlantis' or something?" giggles Shell Bell.
jovahs_heiress: (upward)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Pretty much," says Angela.
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria
"Out of all the things we could be known by, that one's not so bad," says Sherlock.
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I suppose not," says Shell Bell.
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I think at best I'm going to be 'the one with the wings'," says Angela ruefully. "If I'm less lucky it'll be something like "the sheltered fragile one"; I don't think I made the best early impression on Amariah."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"That might've been my fault," Micaiah says cheerfully.
jovahs_heiress: (unsure)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I don't think it was, really, I think I just - failed to know an embarrassing subset of things? She was very kind about it, really."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"What things didn't you know, or don't you want to talk about it?" asks Shell Bell.
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"...Before I read your entry in the guestbook I was not aware that it was something people did to date within their own gender," says Angela quietly. "My education on the subject has been theoretical and designed around the fact that I belong to an endangered species."
sicaria: Dressed up. (⑺ primarily innocence)
Author: sicaria
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Shell Bell peers into that silence.
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)
Author: sicaria
It is the silence of Sherlock actively declining to have an opinion on something.
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Okay then.
jovahs_heiress: (unbalanced)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Sorry?" says Angela uncertainly.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"You don't have to apologize. I could probably have made it to our age without noticing it being a thing if I hadn't been coming to Milliways from age six and if I didn't watch TV," says Shell Bell. "It's not like anyone ever sat me down and explained it per se."
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"...What is TV?"
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"...your world is going to be an experience," says Shell Bell. "TV is... a form of storytelling or news reporting that works by recording moving pictures, and sound. It's displayed on a screen and it's like you're seeing the event that's depicted, miniaturized and captured for replay."
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"We have some music recordings, although we no longer know how to make new ones and they can only be found at the Eyrie and Monteverde. Adding pictures on a screen sounds interesting," says Angela.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"It sounds fun," says Micaiah.
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Potentially, although since even recording music was a technology our ancestors relinquished, I'm not so sure it doesn't have some... awful consequence I can't think of off the top of my head," muses Angela.
she_sells_seashells: (irked)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"...Well, it kind of does," admits Shell Bell. "Our world had a particularly nasty... event... that was televised, and if it hadn't been possible to record it I think the event would've been less effective at its intended purposes. Although that took way more than the mere existence of the technology and I'm not planning to abolish TV or anything."
sicaria: Annoyed or distant. (⒁ belongs to no one)
Author: sicaria
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Shell Bell has a look at that silence, too.
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)
Author: sicaria
Its contents are predictably bloody.
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"What are you doing when you look at her like that?"
she_sells_seashells: (preoccupied)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I can read her mind," explains Shell Bell, taking her girlfriend's hand and nuzzling her shoulder. "Stella can read Alice's mind, too."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I want you to read my mind," says Micaiah, snuggling up to Angela.
jovahs_heiress: (breathe)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"We'll talk to Peninnah," says Angela noncommittally. "- What is it like?"
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"You mean what format do I get the thoughts in, or in a broader sense?"
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Either - both. I don't know. Maybe you shouldn't tell me in case the answer is no and I have to refuse the offer."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Why not talk to the closer-by one?" asks Micaiah. "She seemed okay with the weird question you already asked her."
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"That was a less strange question. It was only one step away from something some oracle has to answer once a generation anyway," demurs Angela. "I really don't think Alleluia likes me. Why else would she send me all the way to Mount Sudan when I'm from Bethel? If she thought I was - I don't know, evil or irresponsible or something, then I assume she'd have felt comfortable telling Delilah that I oughtn't be spending a year with an oracle at all, since they're old friends, but it was clear that she didn't like my company - or something. I'm certainly not sure why. We had a long conversation when I was first asking to study with her that seemed to go fine."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"...She likes you!" says Micaiah. "From what I saw, anyway. She didn't act like somebody who doesn't like you."
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Then why did I wind up with Peninnah instead of her, when she had right of first refusal?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"...Actually," he says, thinking back, "she acted like somebody who likes you but doesn't want you to know it. Maybe she had a crush on you," he hypothesizes. "Or maybe she doesn't take students she likes right away in case she starts playing favourites."
jovahs_heiress: (upward)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"...A crush on me? Alleluia is famously devoted to her husband... though I guess I should stop making assumptions about what that means. I know she takes students she likes. There's several acolytes from the village she grew up in who she's known a long time."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah shrugs.

"I'm telling you, she likes you."
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"That doesn't mean she wouldn't tell Delilah that I'm suffering from dangerous flights of fancy if I fly to Sinai and ask her if there were such a thing as magic, would Jovah forbid it?," says Angela.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"What, and this other guy likes you so much that he wouldn't either?"
jovahs_heiress: (breathe)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Peninnah's a woman. And it would take her much longer to get to Monteverde, let alone the Eyrie, and she's known me for a solid year and knows that I'm not - insane."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"So tell the closer one I made you ask," he retorts. "If she's gonna think one of us is insane, might as well be the one who broke down crying in the middle of her oracle room and had to be carried out."
jovahs_heiress: (concern)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"...If you don't mind Alleluia thinking you're insane, then that would work. She saw the glowing Kisses and it won't seem odd if I'm willing to ask weird things on your behalf," acknowledges Angela slowly. She kisses his hair. "You're sure that's okay with you?"
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I could disguise myself and ask, or Sherlock could even without a disguise beyond the rock in the arm thing," offers Shell Bell. "We have no longer-term reputation to worry about."
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"That's kind, but I'm a little concerned that Jovah's answer will differ depending on whether the petitioner's an angel, or already has magic, or something, so if the answer is supposed to be something I'm going to rely on I think I'd better ask as myself, even if blaming Micaiah for the idea is safer than claiming the question as my own."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I don't mind at all!" he says cheerfully.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Angela's wing pulls him a little closer so she can lean her head against him. "Thank you," she says.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
He leans into her with a soft smile.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I'm gonna go stick my head out the door and ask Tony if he wants to join us," says Shell Bell.

She flies down the stairs and sticks her head out the door and says, [Hey, Tony, met a new me with a new copy of Alice attached to her. Want to meet them?]
ferratus: Thoughtful or uncertain. (⑼ debatably)
Author: ferratus
[zzz,] says Tony's busy message.
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Shell Bell goes back upstairs. "He's asleep," she reports.
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria
"Oh well."
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"...Do you want to come back to my world now? I'm afraid once we're there, I won't be able to show you around right away; I was on my way to a harmonics slot I'm supposed to sing."
sicaria: Looking over shoulder. (⑹ look what the cat dragged in)
Author: sicaria
"I would not mind hearing you sing."
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"We'll be invisible so you don't have to explain us," adds Shell Bell.
jovahs_heiress: (portrait)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Okay. I think I can pretend it's five in the morning. Micaiah, does it feel close enough to five in the morning to you?" Angela inquires.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Sure," he says indifferently.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Okay. I guess we can go, then. But - outside of a local emergency - no significant magic on anything other than yourselves until I have an answer," admonishes Angela. "And it might take me a few days to find time to fly to Sinai. There are always intercessions to do and I'm well-known for taking them whenever I can."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Do we need to clarify what counts as a local emergency as opposed to a global emergency or a local non-emergency, or will our mutual common sense do?" asks Shell Bell.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Mmm - weather is never an emergency. If you go exploring on your own and there's weather going on that needs to stop, you can tell me and I can come handle it."
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"But you don't care if we teleport and fly around, turn invisible and wander through public areas, conjure ourselves food and shelter and whatever, or stop, like, a house fire," Shell Bell says.
jovahs_heiress: (breathe)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Yes, that's all fine."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"This'll be fun," Micaiah predicts happily.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"It very well may."
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Shall we go? Before your circadian rhythms are thrown off any more?"
jovahs_heiress: (away)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Yes, all right. I just hold the door and let you through? We may as well head out now."

And out they all head, piling into Angela's quarters.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah is bouncing excitedly. The joy of hearing Angela sing has definitely not gotten old.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
The visitors go invisible, naturally, before the door is reopened to the hallway.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
And out Angela goes to meet up with Serah and sing.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
[She's good. Must be an angel thing, I can't sing like that,] Shell Bell comments to Sherlock.
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria
[She is very good,] Sherlock agrees. [You are still my favourite.]
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Invisible floating huggles!
sicaria: Grinning, perhaps smugly. (⑴ I always know)
Author: sicaria
One of the very best kinds!